Taxation of Investments in Bitcoins and Other Virtual Currencies: International Trends and the Brazilian Approach

Abstract

This paper discusses international trends and current Brazilian regulatory and tax approaches to virtual currencies. It analyzes the main trends and challenges on regulation and taxation of virtual currencies identified internationally. It further analyzes the Brazilian approach to cryptocurrencies regulation and taxation, providing an outline of applicable tax rules and a perspective on how unregulated issues might be dealt with. Finally, it offers some conclusions on how Brazil currently fits current emerging international regulatory and tax framework for virtual currencies.

Keywords: virtual currency; bitcoin; digital curreny; cryptocurrency; tax; income; currency regulation

JEL Classification: K34